scholarly journals Psychological Distress and Access to Care Among Midlife Women

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 317-327
Author(s):  
Pamela Jo Johnson ◽  
Judy Jou ◽  
Dawn M. Upchurch
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
The United States ◽  
Midlife Women ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
Unmet Health Care Needs ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Using Data

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine unmet health care needs among midlife women (ages 50-64 years) in the United States by level of psychological distress. Method: Using data for a nationally representative sample of midlife women ( N = 8,838) from the 2015-2016 National Health Interview Survey, we estimated odds ratios of reasons for delayed care and types of care foregone by level of psychological distress—none, moderate (moderate psychological distress [MPD], and severe (severe psychological distress [SPD]). Findings: More than one in five midlife women had MPD (15.3%) or SPD (5.2%). Women with MPD or SPD had 2 to 5 times higher odds of delayed and 2 to 20 times higher odds of foregone care. Conclusions: Midlife women with psychological distress have poorer health than those with no distress, yet they are less likely to get needed health care. There is a missed window of opportunity to address mental health needs and manage comorbid chronic conditions to facilitate healthy aging.

scholarly journals Technology for Healthy Aging: Use of Electronic Communication among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 634-635
Author(s):  
Rumei Yang ◽  
Yan Du ◽  
Haocen Wang ◽  
Zuoting Nie ◽  
Chumin Ji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Electronic Communication ◽  
Patient Portal ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Using Data ◽  
High Level

Abstract In the digital era, many electronic platforms have been established to facilitate patient-provider communication, such as e-mail, text messaging, and patient portal. The use of these electronic platforms is termed as electronic-communication (e-communication). E-communication has a variety of personalized healthcare functions, such as exchanging information, reviewing lab results, and facilitating patient engagement. However, little is known about the actual use of e-communication among older adults who are potentially major users of e-communication considering their high-level health care needs. Understanding their use of e-communication is critical in improving the application of e-communication in older adults. Using data from American Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS2019-Cycle3; n=1,961; meanage =74.10, range=65-98), we explored: 1) the prevalence of e-communication use among older adults, and 2) factors affecting their use of e-communication. Variables were measured by self-reports. Weighted logistic regression with replicate weights provided by the HINTS was performed for data analysis. We found that 50% older adults reported the use of e-communication in the last year. Factors associated with higher likelihood of older adults’ e-communication use included younger age (OR=09.96, 95%CI=0.93-0.98, p<0.001), higher education (OR=4.82, 95%CI=2.32-10.02, p<0.001 for college graduate or higher), higher income (OR=1.58, 95%CI=1.05-2.38, p=0.030), comorbid conditions (OR=1.64, 95%CI=1.02-2.64, p<0.001), and having a regular provider (OR=2.06, 95%CI=1.31-3.22, p=0.002). This study provided nationally representative results demonstrating a great potential use of e-communication in older adults. Special attention is needed to focus on socially vulnerable older adults (e.g., those with older age, lower education and income, and having comorbidity).

scholarly journals States Can Transform Their Health Care Workforce

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 805-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul H. Rockey ◽  
Richard E. Rieselbach ◽  
Katherine Neuhausen ◽  
Thomas J. Nasca ◽  
Robert L. Phillips ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Access ◽  
The United States ◽  
Institute Of Medicine ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Health Care Workforce ◽  
Care Access ◽  
Unmet Health Care Needs ◽  
Workforce Needs ◽  
Distribution Of Physicians

Abstract The United States faces the simultaneous challenges of improving health care access and balancing the specialty and geographic distribution of physicians. A 2014 Institute of Medicine report recommended significant changes in Medicare graduate medical education (GME) funding, to incentivize innovation and increase accountability for meeting national physician workforce needs. Annually, nearly $4 billion of Medicaid funds support GME, with limited accountability for outcomes. Directing these funds toward states' greatest health care workforce needs could address health care access and physician maldistribution issues and make the funding for resident education more accountable. Under the proposed approach, states would use Medicaid funds, in conjunction with Medicare GME funds, to expand existing GME programs and establish new primary care and specialty programs that focus on their population's unmet health care needs.

scholarly journals Health Care Services and the Elderly: Utilization and Satisfaction in the Aftermath of the Turkish Health Transformation Program

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 233372141882286
Author(s):  
Asena Caner ◽  
Seyit Mumin Cilasun
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Future Health Care ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Using Data

With the implementation of the health transformation program, Turkey has gone through substantial changes in its health system in the last decade. This study relies on two nationally representative data sets to investigate health service utilization and satisfaction of the elderly. In particular, it examines the share of elderly who have an unmet need for medical care and who could not afford a medical examination or treatment over the years 2006 to 2015, using data from the Turkish Survey of Income and Living Conditions. It also examines the utilization of health services and satisfaction from these services by the elderly in years 2004 to 2015 using data from the Turkish Life Satisfaction Survey. This study finds that utilization has increased and, coinciding with the introduction of the family medicine system, the percentage of patients choosing primary care facilities has increased. The share of the elderly with unmet need and those who could not afford health care have declined. Notwithstanding, overall satisfaction increased only until 2011-2012. Understanding the utilization and satisfaction of the elderly is important, because along with many other countries, the population is aging in Turkey. In the near future, health care needs of the elderly will have a higher priority on the agenda of policy makers.

Barriers to Health Care Among Adults With Minoritized Identities in the United States, 2013–2017

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (6) ◽  
pp. 857-862
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Hernandez ◽  
P. Johnelle Sparks
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Barriers To Health Care ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Barriers To Health

Objectives. To examine the relationship between minoritized identity and barriers to health care in the United States. Methods. Nationally representative data collected from the 2013 to 2017 waves of the National Health Interview Survey were used to conduct descriptive and logistic regression analyses. Men and women were placed in 1 of 4 categories: no minoritized identities, minoritized identities of race/ethnicity (MIoRE), minoritized identities of sexuality (MIoS), or minoritized identities of both race/ethnicity and sexuality (MIoRES). Five barriers to health care were considered. Results. Relative to heterosexual White adults and after controlling for socioeconomic status, adults with MIoRE were less likely to report barriers, adults with MIoS were more likely to report barriers, and adults with MIoRES were more likely to report barriers across 2 of the study measures. Conclusions. Barriers to care varied according to gender, minoritized identity, and the measure of access to health care itself. Public Health Implications. Approaching health disparities research using an intersectional lens moves the discussion from examining individual differences to examining the role of social structures such as the health care system in maintaining and reproducing inequality.

Young Adults With Special Health Care Needs: Prevalence, Severity, and Access to Health Services

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 86 (5) ◽  
pp. 674-682
Author(s):  
Margaret A. McManus ◽  
Paul W. Newacheck ◽  
Ann M. Greaney
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Health Care Needs ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Financing Policy ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
Nationally Representative

Health care needs of disabled young adults and access to care are analyzed using the 1984 National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative sample of 10 394 randomly selected noninstitutionalized young adults aged 19 to 24. In 1984, 1.4 million young adults (almost 6%) suffered from disabilities. The leading cause of disability was diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. Young adults living in poverty, in households where the family reference person had less than a high school education, and who were male were at elevated risk of disability. Disabled young adults made almost three times as many physician contacts and were hospitalized for close to six times as many days as nondisabled young adults. One of every 5 disabled young adults was uninsured in 1984. Forty-one percent of disabled Hispanic 19- to 24-year-olds and 51% of disabled young adults of other races were uninsured compared with 19% of whites and blacks. Research and financing policy implications are discussed.

scholarly journals Care Challenges Due to COVID-19 and Mental Health Among Caregivers of U.S. Adults With a Chronic or Disabling Condition

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda N Leggett ◽  
Alicia Carmichael ◽  
Natalie Leonard ◽  
Jeannette Jackson ◽  
Matthias Kirch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Caregiver Mental Health ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Related Stress

Abstract Background and Objectives The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses new challenges for caregivers of adults with chronic or disabling conditions. This study uses nationally representative data to examine the prevalence of pandemic care challenges and supports and their associations with caregiver mental health and interpersonal well-being. Research Design and Methods Participants include 311 caregivers aged 50–80 in the United States who were providing care for an adult with a chronic or disabling condition from the June 2020 National Poll on Healthy Aging. Five care challenges (e.g., confusion on public health guidelines) and 2 supports (e.g., physician offered information on care during COVID-19) are treated as predictors of caregiver mental health (care-related stress, self-reported mental health, and depressive symptoms) and interpersonal well-being (interpersonal conflicts, lack of companionship, and isolation). Results Each care challenge/support was endorsed by 13%–23% of caregivers. In adjusted models, difficulty getting needed medical care was associated with greater caregiver stress, depressive symptoms, and lower interpersonal well-being. All care challenges universally predicted greater caregiver stress. Caregiving supports were not independently associated with caregiver’ mental health and interpersonal well-being. Discussion and Implications Care challenges were associated with caregivers’ mental health and interpersonal well-being during the early months of the pandemic. Some of these challenges may be attributed to changing public health guidelines and practices as the pandemic unfolded, whereas others are relevant to all care contexts (e.g., less support from family). Tools and supports for caregivers must consider both changing policies and care needs.

scholarly journals Gendered Association Between Employment Status and Unmet Health Care Needs Among Middle-Aged Koreans

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 226-226
Author(s):  
Si Young Song ◽  
Hey Jung Jun ◽  
Susanna Joo ◽  
Sun Ah Lee
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Employment Status ◽  
Working Women ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Health Care Needs ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Unmet Health Care Needs

Abstract Previous studies show that working people are less likely to experience unmet health care needs than non-workers. Also, employment and health are located in gendered social contexts. The present study aims to examine the moderating effect of gender on the association between employment status and unmet health care needs among middle-aged Koreans. We conducted logistic regression using the Korean Health Panel data (in 2016 and 2017; N=2,573, age range=45-64). Having experiences unmet health care needs in 2017 was the binary dependent variable. Employment status in 2016 was the binary independent variable and gender was the moderating variable. Age, education level, marital status, annual income, household type, type of medical security, disability, self-rated health, the number of chronic diseases, and stress level in 2016 were also in the analytic model based on the Andersen’s health behavioral model. The percentages of middle-aged people experiencing unmet health care needs were 18% for working men, 11% for non-working men, 13% for working women, and 16% for non-working women. The result showed there was significant moderating effect of gender (B= .72, p< .05). Specifically, working men were less likely to experience unmet health care needs than non-working men. On the contrary, there was not the significant difference in experiencing unmet health care needs between working and non-working women. It indicates that it is necessary to supplement medical services for especially for middle-aged men who are not employed because they might experience considerable amounts of unmet health care needs.

Role Stress and Sense of Control Predict Using Food to Cope With Stress in Midlife Women

2021 ◽  
pp. 089826432110110
Author(s):  
Dana R. Riedy ◽  
Ashley MacPherson ◽  
Natalie D. Dautovich
Keyword(s):  
Work Stress ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
The United States ◽  
Role Stress ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Midlife Women ◽  
Sense Of Control ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Significant Mediator

Objective: The current study examined the association between role stress and using food to cope with stress in midlife women and examined sense of control as a potential underlying mechanism. Methods: An archival analysis was performed using data from 638 midlife women from the Midlife in the United States II study. Results: Hierarchical linear regression analyses demonstrated that work stress (β = .180, p < .001) and family stress (β = .138, p < .05) significantly predicted using food to cope with stress. Sense of control was a significant mediator between work stress and using food to cope with stress ( b = 0.02, 95% CI [.0014, .0314]). Discussion: Midlife women with higher role stress related to work and family are more likely to use food to cope with stress, and sense of control seems to be the link between work stress and using food to cope.

Is Music Teacher Professional Development Becoming More Effective? Evaluating Practice and Policy in the United States, 1993–2012

2020 ◽  
pp. 002242942098252
Author(s):  
Justin J. West
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
United States ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Teacher Professional Development ◽  
The United States ◽  
Music Teacher ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Using Data

The purpose of this study was to evaluate music teacher professional development (PD) practice and policy in the United States between 1993 and 2012. Using data from the nationally representative Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) spanning these 20 years, I examined music teacher PD participation by topic, intensity, relevance, and format; music teachers’ top PD priorities; and the reach of certain PD-supportive policies. I assessed these descriptive results against a set of broadly agreed-on criteria for “effective” PD: content specificity, relevance, voluntariness/autonomy, social interaction, and sustained duration. Findings revealed a mixed record. Commendable improvements in content-specific PD access were undercut by deficiencies in social interaction, voluntariness/autonomy, sustained duration, and relevance. School policy, as reported by teachers, was grossly inadequate, with only one of the nine PD-supportive measures appearing on SASS reaching a majority of teachers in any given survey year. Implications for policy, practice, and scholarship are presented.

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